To update ...
It seems that the female piggie that I possibly found at a local rescue is highly likely to need to go on pregnancy watch when she arrives into the rescue this week, as was living alongside two young boars (it's unclear whether the boars had any access to her).
I'm also wondering what is truly the best to do for Bella ... I want the best for her, and fear my heart is guiding me presently ...
The reality is that I am currently very unwell. I was a lot better when I took the piggies on at the start of the year (they were living with a family member). But sadly the anxiety, fear and stress of lockdown, the loss of routine of my part-time employment (I am still furloughed), coupled with a big reduction in my treatment since March (due to COVID), has meant a significant decline in my health. I am now facing a lengthy hospital stay of around 4 months, possibly longer ... but this again has been delayed, due to COVID. I do fully understand and appreciate why these changes/delays had to occur, but sadly the impact on myself has been very difficult to manage.
Back to my sweet Bella ... I just don't know what to do for the best. I've grown so fond of this lovely girl! I know she must have companionship (I tragically lost her cheeky partner Melvin in late July), and I want her to have a really good life. I care for her as best I can ... she is a pampered piggie! But I cannot care for her when I am hospitalised, and there lies the issue. My parents are older and cannot easily care for piggies, due to their physical flexibility in transferring/cleaning out etc, plus my parents are often out for long stretches of time. My only other family members were Bella's original owners who were struggling to look after her, due to a change of their circumstances, hence why I took Bella (and Melvin) on myself at the start of the year. I have no friends who could help care for piggies whilst I am in hospital.
Bella is around 3-4 years of age, and has limited sight. She is a very sweet, shy piggie, but can easily be tempted out by food! She bumbles around investigating as I sort her c&c, and I love the speed that her wiggly nose appears from a hidey when food arrives! I want the best for Bella, but it's becoming increasingly clear that my options are limited by my illness, and I'm devastated that this will impact on Bella. I fear that the only option is to give my sweet Bella up to find the piggie companionship she needs and new loving owners who can offer consistent care, without the complication of illness. But that choice will be awful ... caring for the piggies has got me out of bed and made me smile each day this year ... when there has been so little to smile about in my life
And I'm afraid Bella will not find what I wish for her ... that as an older piggie with poor sight, she would be overlooked in favour of young piggies. I also fear for her ... she is so timid and a noisy household would make her hide away constantly ... I fear that she may not have the happy life I so wanted to offer her myself
. I also don't want her to live her remaining days in a rescue as one of many piggies, as she came from a rescue originally and now she is used to a lot of human chatter to her throughout the day, company and pampering!
I know there are good rescues, and I am considering contacting one in Neath to discuss Bella ... but my heart breaks thinking of this ... especially when still missing Melvin
. But I know I need to make a decision sooner rather than later, as Bella really needs a new piggie friend to enjoy life alongside, and I think that I need to face the fact that in order to ensure that Bella has the life I want for her ... that she has to leave me
Life can be so full of sadness